Mary Barlow
Mastering Strategies
Most people think they know how to study and how to take notes but few actually
do without being taught. Becoming a master student is not easy but it is worth the struggle.
Knowing so many tools will only help you so far. Knowing how and when to use those tools will
make you a master student. In class I learned how to read a textbook, how to take notes, and how
to effectively manage my time. Letting go of old habits can be hard but the only way to learn
new study skills is to get rid of the ones that do not work.
I am one of those people who love to read. I read as much as 2 to 3 novels a month, if I’m
not working or in school. I always thought reading was enjoyable and fun which is why I own
more than 150 books. Reading and re-reading my favorite books and finding new stories is my
favorite past time. When I started school I realized how much reading I had to do, I also realized
how boring it was to read a textbook. Reading every word and trying to understand what the
point was. How was I ever going to get through college with such boring reading requirements?
Luckily, I learned how to become a master reader. I learned that I did not have to read
every word like I do with the novels I love. I can skip around and skim to learn more effectively.
I learned a strategy called Muscle Reading. To use muscle reading there are three phases: what to
do before, during, and after I read. Before I read I must preview, make an outline, and write
questions I need answers to. While I read I underline or highlight important sentences, and find
the answers to each question. After I read I summarize the information for myself I then review
my notes on what I have just read.
I learned a few strategies to help me to understand what to do when reading is difficult. I
can re-read it to see if I can understand the second time around. I can talk to the instructor, other
students, or find a tutor to help me understand my text. The strategy I use the most for difficult
reading is to reading it out loud. When I read the text out loud I can hear it and understanding it
is a lot easier.
There are many different types of note taking strategies. I have learned some strategies
that will improve my note taking and make effective study guides. One strategy I use to
understand my textbook is to take notes from my textbook. This works because I can rewrite the
concepts in my own words. This is a strategy I had never heard of before. The only strategy I had
heard of was to take notes on a power point or to copy down information. Notes were not very
useful nor did I use them effectively. The only effective notes I took were for vocabulary quizzes
and from math lectures.
Writing in my textbook was an unheard of thing to do for me. Deface a book? What I
found out was it is a strategy that would help me study. I also found that I cannot highlight or
underline more than ten percent of the textbook; this defeats the purpose and makes it more
difficult to study. When I need to remember formulas or certain words I use the flash cards. This
easily helps me to study key words and formulas so I can remember them much easier.
The Cornell method is a useful way to connect class lectures with my textbook and write
down questions I have on that subject. Using the name of the lecture or the subject will help me
to know what I need to study and where to find it. A method called mind mapping makes me
personalize the notes and connect them with color and meaning. My notes look fun and I can
easily remember what notes I took because I used color to separate them. I learned that I can
watch my instructor for clues or listen to what they stress during my time in class. I also write on
only one side of the paper, this strategy helps me when it is time to study. I can lay each page
out, organize them into subject and know what lecture was taken on which paper without having
to worry about what is on the back. This is a huge time saver during study periods.
The most effective note taking strategy I learned was when to review notes. I learned that
I must review notes within 24 hours. Reviewing my notes within 24 hours will help me move the
information from short-term memory to long-term memory. Doing a weekly review or
scheduling a review will help me remember important points that were made during each lecture.
Creating summaries of my own notes will make me review them and re-write the notes in fewer
words.
The only way to apply all these strategies is to manage my time. Time management was
something I had heard of but never knew how to use it, why it was useful, or what a relief it
would create. When I was in high school I pretty much did homework whenever I got to it.
Usually it was after work was over or before class was over. I did not put much effort into my
homework, I got passing grades so I did not think it mattered how much time I put into it.
Once I started college I began to panic. Suddenly I had to deal with a full time job,
classes that require more effort on my part, and still wanting time for me. I learned about it in
class and I thought, ‘great this again.’ I was not too enthusiastic when I was told I had to do it for
a week at least. How thankful I was when that week was over.
I had learned that with time management I am able to work, finish all assignments, watch
a movie, and read my favorite book. It also showed me what happens when I do not follow my
plan. I would stress and get more upset the farther I went off track. I realized that I had planned
two hours of study time with a one hour break followed by two hours of homework, when I did
not follow my plan I had to do four hours of school work without a break to make up for it. The
time management strategy I use the most is to plan out my hours. Seeing how much time needs
to be spent on each thing. Knowing all the time I have to spend to get everything done. Planning
all my hours will help me be more effective in studying and finishing assignments.
In my future I am going to be a teacher. Teachers are always learning, therefore these
studying habits will help me even when I am finished will college. I have learned strategies that
can be used lifelong. General Education is just that, general. It is basic classes that all students
need and use to build on individual careers. This shows that all roads begin the same and only
you make them end differently.